How great was tonight? This great. This bladdy great. What started out as a morbid fear of no one pitching turned into probably one of the best night’s of my life. Instead of stressing about all the usual stuff, I could for once just focus on doing my shit the way I needed it to be done. No drama. No-one cracking a miff vibe. Think I could get used to this…

Lights Camera, Action!

All i need to succeed!

Think i had a bit of every one of these after my first solo show…

Funky fan

Satisfied customers

More satisfied customers

My one true love

Usually I would take this opportunity to cryptically allude to the altercations and issues that led to me calling it quits on yet another unreliable, dysfunctional setup. But not today. Today I announce my intentions to quit relying on other people and just do it myself, on my own terms. Radness.

I hate this song.

It’s like someone at a record label went, “Hmmmm…. MGMT have gone mad and aren’t producing indie/pop/electro that can allow non-hipsters in on the act. What should we do… what should we do… OH I KNOW – we’ll find another group of delightful indie kids and get them in to fill the hole!”

Then someone else sitting in the boardroom goes, “But how can we make it even BETTER?”

And that’s when Johnson, that little fokker from the Marketing department goes, “Whistling? Whistling! We need whistling!”

“It worked for Peter, Bjorn and John…”

And then they all made out with each other for the rest of the afternoon.

Well praise be to the music gods! Houston, we have some progress… Managed to get some good stuff down today. Finally in a good space creatively. Can’t wait to show the other guys and hear what they think. Looking back at the stuff I got down today, I think there’s a few solid tracks in there. And it’s not even lunchtime. Think this calls for some sort of celebratory activity. City skate, anyone?

We are high, so hiiiiiigh x2

So you know those warning tambourines I spoke of? Well, through some magical yet utterly predictable alchemy managed to transform into warning tubas. Loud and clear. As I said before, a certain lady of the keys has totally bought into that whole pseudo glamourous self destruction thing. Think Taylor Momsen in Gossip Girl. Think Taylor Momsen in real life.  Forgive me for sounding callous. I know it doesn’t make her a crap person or anything… she clearly has some issues she needs help with. But as someone trying to get this project off the ground I can’t help but feel I need to start putting some distance between us.

I’m a huge fan of Chris Cunningham’s work, as you may have seen me tweeting about, and given that we’ve got a video for NIN with my man Chris Cunningham – that is some awesome stuff right there.

Would love to have videos like that one day. One day. I suppose we need to get a little bit further on before we get ahead of ourselves. We’ve signed with 1984 Records for now, which is an unbelievable first step. Now I just need to deal with Lazer Eyes and her mentalness and hopefully we can get somewhere. She’s so talented but she’s just mental. Lazer, if you’re reading this – sorry my girl but COME ON. She plays the keyboard like she was sent from hell to haunt it for the rest of time, but she’s got to be lucid and sober to actually make that happen. I just learnt today that she’s a classically trained pianist – Eisteddfords all the way through high school – the whole shebangdoodle.

While many of my favourite artists had a self-destructive streak, you can’t make great music when you’re messed up all the time. Think of Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, when he was in At The Drive-In, he and that singer guy, Cedric whatsisname, were seriously into drugs. He said he was too afraid to stop in case he couldn’t write music any more. The good news is that he did stop, as well as the singer guy and Omar R-L now makes like 5 albums PER YEAR. On top of what he does with The Mars Volta. All without drugs/alcohol etc.

I think Raffy and I need to sit Lazer down and chat to her. Stage a mini-intervention or something.

Anyway – the exciting news is that Metallica and Lou Reed have done an album together. Based on German plays from the early 1900s. This is the kind of shit that gets me excited. Weimar Germany, roaring 20s stuff. Love it. I cannot wait to see how it comes out – sounds like it’s going to be something of real value. That’s a big issue with music these days – everything is designed to be forgotten. That’s not right. All the best music was great when you listened to it and will continue to be great in the future.

Think of it this way – listen to that first Black Eyed Peas song – Where Is The Love. It feels like it’s a ‘classic’. You almost listen to it and go aaaaahh, those were the days. Remember how great everything was. That was just a few years ago. And we feel like that because music is designed to last no longer than 3 months. That is not good enough.

If it’s not changing the world (or at least tearing out its hair trying to change the world) then it is not worth doing. Period.

Anyway, back to music. This is a slightly older one (from, like, totally 2 years ago – VINTAGE) – Dirty Projectors – Stillness Is The Move.

I read an interesting article on one of those pretentious, head-up-your-ass music sites – I think it was Pitchfork. They were talking about how a lot of great music has come from white people attempting to make the music ‘of black people’. They referenced the start of rock ‘n roll and how it built on blues etc. They even mentioned The Rolling Stones and their take on R ‘n B. This song was mentioned too – they consider this song in some ways to be a white attempt at R ‘n B. Now what’s interesting is that Solange Knowles (the more talented sister) has done a cover in a much more R ‘n B style. Here’s that song:

What’s really interesting to me is that she chose Bumpy’s Lament as a sample – something I’ve heard in a huge amount of R ‘n B songs (I think Dr Dre even used it in 2001). Here’s Bumpy’s Lament – it’s actually damn funky! First time I’m hearing it properly. See – I discover things and share with you guys.

But – before I carry on with my meandering, just consider ‘Loving You’ by Minnie Riperton. The melody she uses in the line after, “… is easy because you’re beautiful,” is actually similar(ish) to Dirty Projectors. So yes – we can see how this is really calling on a lot of R ‘n B to make it happen. I still love this song by Minnie Riperton though – it’s a classic and anyone who says it isn’t… well they’re just dumb.

How cool is that guy’s beard?

Mmmm. What’s that smell? Is it the faint aroma of someone about to burn out, let you down and fade away? Call me cynical but I can see that shit coming a mile away. Maybe I’m being paranoid because of what happened with the last band, but nevertheless I can’t help but feel that the warning bells are ringing. Ok, maybe not warning bells. More like warning tambourines. Guess only time will tell…

Rock ‘n Roll… but at what cost?!

Oh hi! What do we have here? A record deal? Maaaaybe. Seem to have made quite an impression on The Suits. Can’t really say much about it now ‘till after the official press release (and the ironing out of a few internal politics), but let’s just say we’re unofficially excited.

I’ll accept this ferret as my advance on the record deal. Need it, want it!

And i’ll take this too! #nicedeal

Things to love about the late 90’s: Good Bad TV. Especially shows where 30 year olds played 16 year olds (Dawson’s Creek?). Things being cheaper. No irony. Frosted tips. The demise of Gwen Stefani via solo career. The Macarena (Never was it so much fun to see so many people all look like morons. Together). SuperNintendo. Rapper feuds/deaths. Beavis and Butthead. Ice Rinks. I could go on. Point being, there is so much to love about The Late Nineties right now. Thanks to everyone who came through tonight! Including the dude kind enough to give us that business card…

Laser Eyes, thinking of Salty Balls

The Late Nineties were here

Ok. So. I know the whole “romance in the workplace” thing is a such a cliché. And I totally agree it should be avoided at all costs. But let’s be honest. This ain’t no stapler and filing cabinet set up. The “colleague” in question is professionally obligated to be sweaty, shirtless, cool and talented while on the job. So naturally I have a very, um, professional reaction to that. Right.

See what i mean…

Kick. Kick. Kick. Kick. Idiot Me strikes again. Ok. I’m probably being a little dramatic. But you know that thing when you really, really want something? And end up acting all clumsy and overeager and totally not yourself? Yeah well Hello. You’re looking at it. Practice today wasn’t as easy as I’d hoped. I mean, in some ways it sounded pretty good, I just felt out of sorts. But I’m always so shy and like self-aware and stuff around people I don’t really know… Guess it’s gonna take some time…

My 2 favorites: My mic and Pink Floyd.

What can i say…

I’m no lesbo, but i dig this chick.

I have a recurring dream that I have when I’m stressed out about something. I’ve been having it since I was about fourteen. I’m stuck in a hotel, which I own. Or my family owns. I can’t tell.

There’s a certain room that I need to get to. It’s at the top of a long flight of stairs, I’ve only seen the stairs about three times, and I’ve only actually been on them once. I don’t know what’s in the room, but I know that I have to get there. I walk through the rooms for hours and various things hold me back. You know those dreams where everything is frustrating? You can’t walk properly, you can’t breathe, there’s something physically holding you back, you try to punch something and your hand moves too slowly. These have all come up – I dream different variations of this dream at least two or three times a month.

Sometimes the dream has a bit of a soundtrack and sometimes it doesn’t. I’ve tried to capture it, but it never really works. I wake up in the middle of the night and try scribble it down in my book, but by morning it’s just leaves in the wind. The closest I’ve heard to what the soundtrack sounds like is this song by Michael Pitt.

I think the key to this dream is the dead man. He is not always in my dreams but whenever I find him in the hotel it seems important. He’s probably about 65 I would guess and he’s lying in one of the beds, dead. Usually he’s lying on his back, perfectly posed, like he’s lying in state. Often there are candles and flowers all around him, but sometimes the room is just empty and cold. In the dream, all the colours get washed out when I find the dead man. I’ve never touched him or approached him too close. It seems like such an intrusion. And even when I can’t find him – I know that he’s there somewhere.

The few times I’ve found the stairs that lead up to the room, I’ve seen the dead man first. He looks so peaceful, almost like he’s sleeping. I just don’t know what I’m meant to do with him or to him to be able to access that room. He’s like an immovable force, even though he’s dead. And it’s not like there are other people in the hotel either.

I’m always alone. With him.

Can you pay my beeeels? Can you pay my automobeeels? Can you pay my telephone beeeeeels? Yeah yeah easy enough for you to say Beyonce. What with your gazillion dollar record deal n all. Why does money have to be such a stress? My one cousin is like obsessed with playing the lottery and stuff, convinced he’s gonna strike it big. He’s already won a few extra moneyz, and I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t considered it. But I have this sort of superstition around it. Like I believe that Luck only favours you once in your life. Or, should I say, favours one area. Like, you can’t be a famous musician AND win the lottery. Life just doesn’t work like that. So I’m not wasting any of my Karma Coins on Jackpot Dreams. I’m putting ‘em all in the band bank! Which means long, exploitative hours at the greasy spoon for now. Sigh.

I’m not supposed to say this, but really, don’t ever eat in this restaurant. I mean look at this junk(food).

A sad excuse for a burger pattie…

My butter paintbrush with which i’ve “painted” many many many patties.

I am never having children. If naming a band is this much of a mission, I can’t imagine what it takes to name an actual human baby (Just ask those Hollywood celebrities who get it horrible wrong). It’s always tricky naming something for the now that (you hope) will last for the ever. Just ask your great aunt Fanny or uncle Mingus.  But anyway, on that note let me introduce ourselves officially. World, meet The Late Nineties. Because like Hansel, The Late Nineties are so hot right now.

Went through many many many names. Kinda liked Psychic Temple Too

This is it! We are unanimous! The Late Nineties!

Feels like i need holidays after this name changing ordeal!! Glad we sorted that out!

And now we’re stuck trying to think of a name. NO PRESSURE.

It’s times like this that you end up staring at the wall and everything suddenly seems like it might be meaningful. For example: No Pressure. That’s not a bad name. Also – if a band can be called Danananananananan Aykroyd and be taken seriously, well then you can call yourself anything.

- Walls

- And the Turners

- Rone Stoses

- Katrina and the Babes

- Lazer Eyes (although that IS already our keyboardist’s nickname)

- The Strands

- Dielines

- Wendy and the Housees

- The Singularity

Otherwise I found this name generator for Witch House: http://chillwitchnamemagic.com/

That gives me: Tender Heavy, Shore Candles, Heart Necklace, Moon in Furs, Heart Caves, Lucky Kids and Teardrop Fuxx.

I dunno. Nothing is jumping out just yet…

blegh

Band tryouts officially over! Music God totally answered my prayers. Not only does drummer boy totally rock out on the beats (like, seriously), but he is conveniently easy on the eyes (like, seriously). Really tried to be objective back there but think I suffered some sort of momentary Synaesthesia where your senses get all confused. I swore I could actually HEAR the hotness. Ok. Time for me to shuttup. Now.

Introducing... my new drummer!

Wavves playing backing track to GZA – love it! If you don’t know who Wavves is, you’ll be forgiven not having heard his noise-pop-Cali-surf-rock. Here’s a Wavves track that makes you want to get on the beach and party.

Love that song – so much fun. Love the ridiculous tats and that bedazzled bong (not that I condone drug use, keep it clean kids). There are more than enough legal ways to mess your life up, drugs just get in the way.

And if you don’t know who GZA is – well then you should just dig a hole and go live in it.

The best thing to do on a Sunday afternoon is chill the hell out and listen to music. I’m listening to this with my new found keyboard player – what are you listening to?

And suddenly, amidst the treacherous ocean of megafails appeared a hallowed light. But who could it be? Moses? The Venus de Milo? Yeah, if the Venus de Milo traded in the shell for a Korg and a set of Yamaha Keys! Sorry to get all poetic there y’all, but think I found someone special today. More news to follow…

All hail my Yamaha

Like NO dude…